NHER 6395 (Monument record) - Potentially Palaeolithic worked flints and medieval or post-medieval structures

Various discoveries made in pit associated with post-medieval to modern brickworks (NHER 60106). S. White (NAU) confirmed that the local name for this pit was the "East Runton Pit", suggesting it may be the source of a number of potentially Palaeolithic worked flints that were recovered in East Runton during the 1930s (previously recorded as NHER 6357). It should however be noted that several potentially Palaeolithic finds listed on (S1) and recorded by (S2) as being from this pit were actually recovered at the 'Roman Camp' pit (NHER 6356).

1934. Stray Find.
This is possibly the pit "…on the south side of the main road near East Runton" in which a flint flake was found by T. P. O'Brien in 1934. This discovery was described on (S3) as an ""…unrolled and unpatinated flake of indubitably human origin..." that was found "…lying on the floor of the pit".
P. Watkins (HES), 17 July 2014.

Pre 1938. Field Observation.
In 1942 J. Reid Moir and D. Baden-Powell published a description of a Palaeolithic flint industry they named the “Runtonian”, which had been recovered from a series of pits in and around Runton (S3). This industry, first reported in 1938 (S4), was described as comprising unmodified flakes, possible cores, scrapers and other retouched flake implements. These objects had been recovered from deposits described as Corton Sands and Briton’s Lane Gravel – material associated with the Anglian glaciation. The pit is the most likely provenance of the material recorded as having been found in East Runton. The seven implements illustrated in (S3) include a 'point' and two 'racloirs' from East Runton. Wymer (S5) has noted that at least some these pieces "appear to be genuine artefacts"", although he notes that insufficient evidence was presented to confirm their suggested provenance.

The British Museum a collection of flints from the East Runton Pit that were donated by Reid Moir (1943,1101). The status of these flints is uncertain. They are recorded in the museum's records as simply 'debitage', although a note on (S6) suggests that some may genuine. It is however recorded on (S7) that this collection (which also includes material from the 'Roman Camp Pit'; NHER 6356) comprises only natural 'eoliths'.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 July 2014.

1938. Excavation.
Excavation of structures discovered on edge of brickworks pit:
Interpreted as 13th and 17th century pottery kilns.
Post-medieval token and stoneware pottery also found.
Finds donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1939.147).
Information from (S8).
See published report (S9) for further details. Plans and photographs in file.

In July 1993 E. Rose (NLA) noted that the illustrations in (S9) in fact appear to show a haystack kiln, presumably associated with the 19th century brickworks (now recorded as NHER 60106).

In July 2000 A. Rogerson (NLA) noted:
"I examined this pottery with [1] some years ago and there is nothing at all to indicate a kiln site of either period. It is simply a collection of medieval-post medieval sherds".

Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 July 2014.